Post navigation

Artsy Fartsy Tuesday-Woodworking

Artsy Fartsy Tuesday-Woodworking

Al is doing a bit of an odd ball project right now. We met a woman about a year ago, that is a friend of a friend. She lives in Central, Utah and owns a fairly large cattle ranch. Central is about 20 miles north of St. George and is where our club mountain man rendezvous is held. Actually, she owns the land we have the rendezvous on, so it enables us to have a permanent site. More on that in the very near future.

She asked Al to carve 4 elephant legs for a huge table top she has. The slab of wood that is the table top weighs about 500 pounds. She has an “elephant room” and wanted a table with elephant legs to go in there. So, since we arrived in Utah county Al has been at his shop making 4 elephant legs.

This shows the process a little bit. He had to glue all the wood together to get something big enough. Then start carving them.

Like I said, a bit of an odd project, but hey, it pays the bills. He should be done this week sometime. We will be delivering these hopefully this weekend, or Monday at the latest. Then we will be staying in Central for a week or more at the rendezvous site. I can’t wait to get back down to the desert, and the rendezvous starts on Thursday. That’s always a very good time.

Before he started on the legs, he hurried and made a couple of frames for my photos. I needed to apply for a show in Bozeman, Montana and needed some images to send.

This is just one of the ideas we have for the frames we want to do.

When we get back from rendezvous, we will be making more frames and exploring some of the other ideas we have.

Those legs are very interesting . The method of layering the wood to make it thick enough would be itself a big job. The table sounds huge and massive to go with the legs. I am trying to get a visual of the whole table with the legs and I know it will be amazing. Now I’m wondering what kind of color and finish will be on it. Will the top have wrinkles like elephant skin? Are there going to be chairs also? Does this woman have dreams of going on a Safari? The frames are very unique. I like the rocks with the texture underneath. The photos are very vivid and pop right out at you. All in all on a scale of 1 to 10 you get 10.

Great legs Mary . . . I mean Al’s (for the table, you know). What kind of wood did Al select to carve? It must be some kind of a hard wood but something that takes carving well. Could it be walnut?

Frames are looking good. I see you gave up one of your heart stones for the heart stone stacked rock photo. That should sell well at the shows. Watch out that you don’t become a heartless artist over this new direction in framing.

The wood is alder. Most of the carving projects Al does are made with alder. It carves about the best. Walnut is good too, but it’s pretty expensive and harder to finish in a specific color. Al found the heart rock when we were picking up rocks to make these. He just slipped it in for the frame. LOL

The elephant legs may be an unusual project, but they’re very interesting and so beautifully crafted! I love seeing the stages it takes to make them. The frames are a brilliant idea, and I particularly like the stones with the designs around them. Ooo Montana…where I’ve wanted to live since I was a little girl. :)

I like the idea with the elephant legs and it’s a great way to make them from wood :o) The picture frame is wonderful, you have not only a photo or a picture to remember a great place, the stones make it to a real memory :o)
easy rider

wow – elephant legs! That is an unusual project! They’re really cool-looking – I’d love to see the whole table (and the elephant room). I really like what you’re doing with the frames – they look fantastic!

Those elephant legs are really cool, but how big are they? I’d love to see a picture of Roxy next to them for some perspective. I figure they have to be pretty big for the table top! Love the frames too! Love Dolly